The subject of this painting came from the Waterloo Library archives in 1984. I painted a number of historical period pieces back then. I love the architecture, clothes and automobiles of the 1900’s.

Most of my paintings are fairly detailed using fine brushes….this one I used a pallette knife. I took instruction from Mike Roth for many years and he perfected this technique and was a master of it. This is my attempt at it, which explains why I paint with brushes.

This is a painting commissioned by a Christian summer camp organization near Huntsville, Ontario . They initially wanted to auction the original and for me to produce 250 limited edition prints to help raise funds at their 75th anniversary celebration. When I heard they had been at this for such a long time I suggested that they increase the edition to 1000. They were worried that they wouldn’t be able to sell so many at the event, but I assured them that they could still offer them after the event and to new families over the years. As it turned out they sold all of them at the event.

I made a number of trips to the camp and wandered around taking photos and making sketches. I chose this view from the girls camp looking towards the boys camp. If you look through the trees just to the right of center, I used artistic license to indicate their open air chapel.

I don’t get many opportunities for portraiture, but here is a nice one…a brother and sister in 1992. Loved the dress!

Years ago the Mennonites ask the township for a bridge across the Conestoga River. The Township priced the job at $20,000 at that time but was not in the budget. The mennonites offered to do the job themselves at no cost to the Township. The Township agreed of course and this bridge was built ( at the cost of $300.00 by the way). It was built in such a way as to allow the water to flow over the bridge during flooding so as not to create an obstruction. Ingenious!!

Another commission in 1986 using clients’ archived photos of what the family farm looked like.The people in the painting were posed standing in line 3 feet apart across the front lawn at the bottom of the picture. I thought it too formal and stiff so moved them up to the porch in a more natural pose.

This painting in 2005 was a commission by the Graham family of their family cottage. Mrs. Graham’s father had recently passed away. So on a whim,…. if you look to the right in the water, I added an image of her father doing what he loved…fishing.

I was prepared to eliminate the father if it didn’t go over well, but fortunately it brought happy tears to the family. Now their father is forever at the cottage with them.